Avatar4321 Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 How do you know for certain whether you've received the gift. It's obvious when the Spirit is present but is the gift more than that?
jwhitlock Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 The Gift of the Holy Ghost is when the fullness of the atonement of Christ is made available to you.
JAHS Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 How do you know for certain whether you've received the gift. It's obvious when the Spirit is present but is the gift more than that? The spirit is the spirit. Anyone can invite the spirit into his heart for periods of time. The "gift" of the holy ghost isn't any different. It's the same spirit; it's just that you have the right to have it with you always as long as you don't remove yourself away from it.
filovirus Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 The Holy Ghost sanctifies. Hence it is necessary to receive the H.G. The H.G. can testify to all, whether he has been received or not through ordination.
CV75 Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 How do you know for certain whether you've received the gift. It's obvious when the Spirit is present but is the gift more than that?Yes, the gift is more than the presence (or the presents!). "There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. In this chapter we will learn what the gift of the Holy Ghost is and how we can receive this great gift from God." https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-21-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng 1
Bobbieaware Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) How do you know for certain whether you've received the gift. It's obvious when the Spirit is present but is the gift more than that?When the mind is constantly filled with light, when revelations of divine truth unfold on a daily basis, when one delights in doing good all of the time, when the temptations to do wrong are significantly less enticing, when Jesus Christ is explicitly or implicitly present in every thought, when the heart and mind are easily entreated with the things of God, when every word in the Book of Mormon radiates with divine light, when one knows as well as he lives that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are true prophets of God, and when mercy and love for all men -- even one's enemies -- rules the heart and mind, then one is experiencing the gift of the Holy Ghost. Edited November 22, 2015 by Bobbieaware 2
janderich Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 The gift of the Holy Ghost is also known as the baptism of fire (which no doubt you know). This is a distinct and real spiritual experience. Many want to say it is imperceptible and happens over such a long drawn out time that it is unrecognizable as an event. This is simply not true. However, there are many members who have the spiritual experience but do not recognize what it is. In my case I received the baptism of fire well after I was baptized. I had been praying and sincerely and seeking forgiveness of all my sins. I prayed to know when I had been forgiven. There came a change in my heart and my mind. My thoughts were tuned to things of the spirit and concerns of the world faded. I was deeply concerned for those around me and I knew I had been forgiven. There was such a special feeling and it lasted for days. Over time, the feeling faded. It wasn't until years later that I recognized what I had received. Not until after I prayed to know if I had received the baptism of fire and the experience was brought back to my mind.
JLHPROF Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) "This first comforter, or Holy Ghost, has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is …powerful in expanding the mind [and] enlightening the understanding." “When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” - Joseph Smith I am always a little suspicious when people claim the gift of the Holy Ghost communicated with them or affected them in a manner other than the one described above. Joseph was very clear on how the gift of the Holy Ghost works. Edited November 22, 2015 by JLHPROF
halconero Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 We often misunderstand the nature of "testimony," "testament," and "testator" in the Gospel sense. Often we believe that a testimony is simple the declaration of belief or witness of the Spirit. It is much more, and absolutely necessary for salvation and exaltation. In the New Testament, almost all instances of these three related words have to do with a legal will or contract, which the Greco-Roman world was all about. Jews, Christians, and pagans alike would have their wills deposited at places like the Temple of Vesta in Rome. After the death of an individual, the testator, an executor would be charged with dispensing of the properties, titles, or monies from the testator to the recipients. There is a refrain from the New Testament which says the "testimony is not enforce until the death of the testator." We like to fancy this up a bit and state that a martyr's declaration of belief and witness isn't in force until they die or are killed. Well...its much more banal and legal than that. It simply means that a last will and testament cannot be dispensed until the person whose property it is dies or passes on.So...how does this relate to the Holy Ghost and the gift thereof? Anybody can receive a witness of the Holy Spirit, which declares until the soul the veracity of the Gospel. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is to grant it the ability to act as the executor of the Father and Sons legal will and testament, which dispenses the inheritance of Eternal Lives and Exaltations. 1
willy1 Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 My take on the topic is expressed through with the help of a scripture in Jeremiah 35:16-17, "16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me. 17 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered." The Gift of the Holy Ghost to me comes when we heed the promptings of the Spirit and live a life in a way that the Spirit can dwell with us to sanctify and uplift us through the Atonement of Christ.
janderich Posted November 22, 2015 Posted November 22, 2015 "This first comforter, or Holy Ghost, has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is …powerful in expanding the mind [and] enlightening the understanding." “When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” - Joseph Smith I am always a little suspicious when people claim the gift of the Holy Ghost communicated with them or affected them in a manner other than the one described above. Joseph was very clear on how the gift of the Holy Ghost works. Indeed it is true that the Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence, but what is the result of that added intelligence? When knowledge strikes so deep and words are inadequate to express what has been given I submit to you that often emotions are tender and the heart full. Paul testifies of these same things, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal 5:22-23). So I like you am skeptical of those who think the spirit is simply feeling good, or tearing up. But I am careful not to make the terrible mistake of discounting another's spiritual experience simply because they are emotional or describe it using such words. If in doubt, the much better way to tell the truth of what anyone says is to ask God if it is of him and receive the answer directly from him.
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